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Mariupol Residents Trapped At The Azovstal Steel Plant Escape The City; A Leaked Document From The U.S. Supreme Court Suggests The Supreme Court Could Overturn Roe v. Wade; Finland Considers Joining NATO; Finland And Sweden Considering NATO Membership; Funeral Director Describes Grief In Bucha; Chinese Authorities Work To Curb Rising COVID-19 Numbers; Scorching Heat In India, Pakistan; Judge Allows Depp-Heard Trial To Move Forward. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired May 03, 2022 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[14:00:00]

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, HOST: Hello everyone, I'm Christina Macfarlane, you're watching CNN NEWSROOM, live from London. Tonight, 106 Ukrainian citizens from the besieged city of Mariupol have made it out of the city, but many more people remain trapped. A leaked document from the U.S. Supreme Court suggests the country's abortion laws could be heading for drastic change.

And we hear from the Finnish Minister for European Affairs, as Finland and Sweden contemplate joining NATO. Walking into the sunlight in safety for the first time in weeks. A convoy carrying 106 civilians from Mariupol has arrived in Zaporizhzhia. It's the emotional cap to an agonizing journey. These evacuees have emerged from bomb shelters beneath the Azovstal Steel plant, which Russian forces are bombarding with artillery from the ground, the sea and the sky. Mariupol's mayor says many more people are still trapped there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR VADYM BOICHENKO, MARIUPOL, UKRAINE: It is important to remember that there are still civilians inside the plant. There are still 200 local civilians, local people of Mariupol inside the plant, and they're being defended by our brave military. These are women and children, there are about 20 children, and they're waiting to be evacuated. They're waiting for a chance to get out. We also have over 600 wounded Ukrainians inside the plant.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Both Russian and Ukrainian forces say Russia is launching a fresh attack on the steel plant. CNN is not in Mariupol, but we are hearing from Ukrainian fighters inside, who say time is running out, and so is food, water and ammunition. The defense forces are refusing to give up. Meanwhile, Mariupol's mayor says Russian forces have forcibly deported nearly 40,000 people from the besieged city to Russian-controlled territory.

Well, those who have reached safety are figuring out their next steps. And our Nick Paton Walsh is live for us in Zaporizhzhia. Nick, I know you have been there today to witness many of these arrivals and speak to the evacuees. What have they been telling you?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR: Yes, I mean, a small contingent, certainly just over a 100 emerging today on five buses. Extraordinary to see the relief, but also hear, frankly, how traumatized they've been by two months in utter darkness. Some blinking, still even after a two-day journey, as they first see the sunlight getting off those buses. One, Olga(ph), age 78, I spoke to, recognizable from one of the videos put out by the Ukrainian military just a couple of days ago, carrying just two bags in her arms.

And really, just kept saying, I'm completely alone, trying to work out exactly what comes next in her life at that age. Troubled that the wound she has on her leg is not healing because of her diabetes. It may make it hard for her to essentially fend for herself. That wasn't really what was ahead of her because the Ukrainian government out there, trying to assist many of those who need to be resettled.

But it was frankly dark to see how someone's life had been so utterly changed by that experience there. Her home destroyed, the same story, a similar story for Anna(ph), carrying her six-month old son, Sviatislav(ph), she's also recognizable from videos from the wreckage of Mariupol and startling to hear her talk about now when she hears airplane, it causes her to reflexively duck for cover, because that's the sound she associates from the intense bombing.

Talking about how her son, who's been a third of his life underground in that basement, coming down there when he was age four -- sorry, age, four months, and now six months old. They heated water for him using a candle when nothing else was available, even, the soldiers though, she said able to get them diapers when needed.

Such startling stories emerging from inside that basement, certainly, along with the notion that maybe dozens of chambers where many people work -- were hiding for shelter. Remember, Christina, the hopes were that this first wave out of Azovstal might begin some sort of process, because it was organized by the United Nations and the Red Cross, who could enable a larger volume of civilians to be evacuated in the days and weeks ahead.

[14:05:00]

But this was complex. It took two days. I think hopes are lower, perhaps, as a result of that complexity, that a greater volume might get out in the weeks ahead. Christina?

MACFARLANE: And Nick, do we have any idea? I know it's hard to know what the situation is on the ground, but any idea how many others are still trapped there? What's the hopes are of getting them out, too?

WALSH: Yes, look, I mean, almost as soon as the quiet came in and allowed these people out, the bombing started again. And there have been clearly attempts by Russia or certainly claims by Russia they've attempted to take part of that steel plant. And Ukrainians say they've killed Russians during those efforts. Fire scene over that plant and intense bombardments they say repeated.

But according to the witnesses we spoke to, there are a number of chambers that comprise of the basement, the underground of that steel plant. And some say well, there were 17 children, some old people in their chamber, and it's hard to put together quite the total figure, but it did seem like it could be in the hundreds from the witnesses that we spoke to, if they're all within 30 chambers there, dealing with potentially a dozen.

So, a great task ahead, certainly, in saving more lives from there. But with that task comes the added complexity of the continued intense Russian bombardments. And what seems to be a Russian bid, frankly, to try and finish the battle for that plant. Christina?

MACFARLANE: Yes, just inconceivable what these people have had to go through. And Nick there from Zaporizhzhia, thank you. I want to pivot now to some breaking news we're bringing last hour from our CNN teams in Lviv, in western Ukraine, who have heard explosions or a number of explosions as has been seen at one site and light across the city appear to be out. Let's go straight out to our Scott McLean who is there in Lviv there. Scott, what can you -- what can you tell us?

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very little at this point, Christina, but I can tell you, it's about 30, maybe 40-45 minutes ago or so, that we heard very large explosions. I myself heard at least three of them from here in the central part of the city, the sound was really unmistakable. And then, shortly thereafter, the power went out, and now the city is largely at a standstill. There is very little traffic moving, there were buses lined up here that weren't moving passengers, sort of sheltering under this university building, just really not sure what to do.

The sirens had gone off, the air raid sirens had gone off about an hour or so earlier before these explosions, and typically, these air raid sirens will go off to mark the beginning of an air raid alert, and then they'll go off again to sound the end of the air raid alerts. And so, we have not heard the end of it. It's always a little bit jarring when you hear explosions in the Lviv area, because, of course, this has been a refuge of safety for people sheltering within the country.

A lot of Ukrainians initially left the country, many have come back and stayed in the western part of the country, in cities like Lviv, because they are by and large relatively safe. Now, in terms of where the explosions are or where the bombs went off, we know that they are to the west, the east, and to the south. The largest, we are told, is to the west of the city. You can actually see smoke burning from our hotel, but we're cautious about showing you any kind of video that may give away the exact location of the strikes.

But again, Christina, this is a city that's gotten pretty used to air raid sirens in the past, they for a long time had been going off once, sometimes twice a day. And people pay very little attention to them, because there have been so few strikes in this area, four in the Lviv region, I think is what I counted thus far. And I recall, the first set of strikes few weeks into the war out by

the airport, and I remember that sort of jolted people into life, to suddenly start paying attention to these air raid sirens that seemed like quite a distant problem for the eastern part of the country, and for the central part of the country.

Now, though, people are being reminded in Lviv, of course, that the war can really strike anywhere.

MACFARLANE: Yes, Scott, and we're hearing that the mayor of Lviv has just in the last few minutes in fact, urged everyone to stay inside in shelters. I know you will continue to monitor this as it's clearly an evolving situation out there. But for now, Scott, thank you very much, there from Lviv. Now, let's turn to the American abortion debate, which is now set to be front and center for weeks to come.

A draft Supreme Court opinion suggests the conservative majority could throw out Roe v. Wade. The draft was published Monday night by "Politico", something unprecedented in the high court's standards of secrecy. The Supreme Court confirmed the document is authentic, and Chief Justice John Roberts has ordered an investigation into the leak. This draft says the court will leave abortion policy up to individual states. U.S. president spoke about this a few hours ago.

[14:10:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If the rationale of the decision as released were to be sustained, a whole range of rights are in question. A whole range of rights. And the idea we're letting the states make those decisions, no doubt make those decisions would be a fundamental shift in what we've done. So, it goes far beyond, in my view, if it becomes the law and if what is written is what remains, it goes far beyond the concern of whether or not there is the right to choose. Those are the other basic rights.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Well, let's go now to CNN legal analysts and Supreme Court biographer Joan Biskupic. Joan, good to have you with us. We were hearing from Joe Biden just then, this leak sending shock-waves today throughout the entirety of the United States. A ruling that would overturn decades of precedent. Talk to us about what other reactions we've had from Washington today. There's been so much of it

JOAN BISKUPIC, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Sure, Christina. It's been a wild nearly 24 hours now. First of all, it's startling where the court appears to be headed. And I want to really emphasize, appears to be headed. It's a February 10th draft. There probably have been several developments behind the scenes at the Supreme Court since then. But this draft seems in sync with what we know about the five most conservative members of this bench and where they want to go.

So, I think there might be some changes in the language, but it looks like America is headed towards a major rollback of women's rights here. And then the other startling thing, Christina, is just how this was disclosed. Typically, opinions come at the end of June in these major cases, and you get to hear from both sides of the debate, and you know, very reasoned renditions from the majority and from the Senate.

And here, we just have the majority view, and we're not sure exactly how dissenters are trying to counter that. We do know that Chief Justice John Roberts has not wanted it to go as far as this conservatives -- five-some appears to be headed, and had been hoping for some sort of compromise. It does not seem that -- like he's made any headway on that kind -- on that front. And now, we're just going to have to wait and see.

In the meantime, the Supreme Court itself is going to try to get to the bottom of how this document was disclosed. I don't anticipate that, that will be an easy task. It's hard to know how it happened. It's so unprecedented, but what will be even more unprecedented is if at the end of June, Roe v. Wade and its protections that have been around for a half century are dissolved. Christina?

MACFARLANE: Yes, thank you, Joan. Still 8 weeks out from that final ruling, potentially, as you say, but unprecedented. And we can see actually, just to -- right of our screen there, those are live pictures we're seeing from outside the Supreme Court. You can see people have turned out to protest already. We know that in a deliberations among the justices are normally some of the most closely-held details in Washington. Here's what the Senate Republican leader said a short while ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): Somebody, likely somebody inside the court itself, leaked a confidential internal draft to the press. Almost certainly in an effort to stir up an inappropriate pressure campaign to sway an outcome. The radical left immediately rallied around the toxic stunt. The court should tune out the bad-face noise and feel completely free to do their job. They should follow the facts and the law, wherever that leads.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Well, to discuss more, I want to bring in our senior legal analyst Elie Honig. Elie, we were hearing from Joan just then, that she expects -- we will expect that this draw -- this draft may well become law, and if it does, how will this play out in the various states? What are the consequences for women across America?

ELIE HONIG, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Well, Christina, if this draft becomes the final opinion of the court, it will change everything about women's rights and reproductive rights in the United States. I want to make this clear, it will not mean that abortion is illegal across the United States.

It will mean that it's essentially up to each state individually, and if you look at the way that stands, about half the states here, a couple dozen states here, either already have laws that say if Roe versus Wade is ever overturned, and we will essentially outlaw abortion here in the state or seem very likely to go that way. So, it's going to lead to a country where abortion rights will really differ in every state-by-state.

MACFARLANE: And it's not exactly unexpected, even though this was a shocking revelation today in the way that it was leaked with a conservative majority on the Supreme Court. So how likely is it that this draft will be the cause, final opinion?

[14:15:00]

HONIG: Well, it seems quite likely, we do have a 6 to 3 conservative to liberal Supreme Court, it appears one of the six conservatives, Chief Justice Roberts is not part of this draft, the majority opinion. But as Joan noted, things do change in the Supreme Court, they do negotiate, they do work together, they do go through a deliberative process.

Chief Justice Roberts -- Joan has reported on this, has at times in the past changed things at the last moment, manage to pull together negotiations and compromises. He did it in order to save the Affordable Care Act a few years ago. So it's not final, that's really important to note. That said, the five justices --

MACFARLANE: Yes --

HONIG: Who have signed on to this draft opinion, have all been chosen in part because they were believed to be against Roe versus Wade, and believed by the presidents who appointed them including the three Trump nominees to be people who would strike down Roe versus Wade. So, I think it's likely, but far from certain that this is the final outcome.

MACFARLANE: And Elie, how much concern is there that other rulings tied to privacy, like legalized contraception, gay marriage, et cetera, could also be in jeopardy now?

HONIG: Well, in the draft ruling, Justice Alito takes pains, he actually lists some of those rights that you mentioned, and says this won't impact those rights. This is only abortion. But on principle, I don't see why things would stop at this, at abortion.

All of these rights fall under the same constitutional umbrella of privacy rights. And if the Supreme Court can take away this right in Roe versus Wade, the woman's right to choose whether to have an abortion, in theory, in principle, there is no reason why they can't go to those other rights.

So, it does open the door to potentially similar decisions that impact other privacy rights down the line.

MACFARLANE: I know obviously, it's being looked into now how, just how a leak of this magnitude happened on such a potentially, politically-contentious issue in the United States. How corrosive is this for the Supreme Court, who we know already have a low approval ratings? HONIG: There is no other way to put it, but that it's terrible for

the court's legitimacy, for public confidence in the court, for the perception that the court is not political. The court, the justices have always told us we are not political, several of them have done media and publicity over the last couple of years, swearing no, we're not political.

This kind of leak really badly damages that and undermines that. And I think Chief Justice Roberts even acknowledges that in his statement. It's terrible for the court's independence and institutional standing.

MACFARLANE: All right, well, we will continue to watch this obviously in the weeks to come. It's going to be a political --

HONIG: Yes --

MACFARLANE: Totally in the run-up to the Midterms. Elie Honig, for now, thank you so much.

HONIG: Thanks, Christina --

MACFARLANE: All right, coming up, after weeks of hell, more than a 100 people from the steel plant in Mariupol are now safe. But hundreds more are still trapped. We'll speak with the Red Cross official and ask what it will take to get them all out. And Finland's Minister for European Affairs joins me later to discuss her country's possible move to join NATO.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:20:00]

MACFARLANE: Hello, and welcome back to CNN Newsroom. We're attending now to more on our top story. The war in Ukraine. And the convoy that got more than a 100 civilians out of Mariupol. The evacuation from the Azovstal Steel plant was an intricately planned operation led by the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Chris Hanger is the spokesperson for the ICRC, he joins me now from Zaporizhzhia.

Chris, thank you so much for your time this evening, I know it has been a busy day. We've been reporting this hour, of course, we saw a convoy arrival today of 106 people. We hear that it took nearly two days for that convoy to arrive. Tell us what it has been like for your team and the operation to get these people out and through Russian- occupied territories?

CHRIS HANGER, SPOKESPERSON, INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS: So, the total time of the operation was actually five days. So our teams left Zaporizhzhia on Friday and they just arrived today. So, it was a highly complex operation that took a lot of negotiation. We are -- on the one hand, we're happy that we got people out of this really difficult circumstances.

There were people that haven't seen the sunlight for a month. And at the same time, there are still people who are trapped, thousands who are trapped, and we hope that we can help those people, and we hope that we can get them to safety. But all in all, it was a highly complex operation that needed a lot of negotiations with the parties in coordination with the United Nations.

And, yes, very complex, but at the same time, we hope we can help more people in the future.

MACFARLANE: Can you talk to me a bit about what your team saw at the Azovstal Steel plant in particular. We were hearing from our correspondent Nick Paton Walsh at the top, that there are obviously, we know chambers underneath this plant where people are stranded. Do you know how many civilians are estimated to be left at the plant?

HANGER: So, we don't have concrete numbers that I can confirm around how many people are still trapped. At the same time, what people told us, the ones that we got out, is that, they were in deep shock when they didn't see the sky for weeks. And then they left Azovstal, and what they saw around them was total destruction, and that's something that's going to stick with people, that's something where people are going to need a lot of mental support, mental health support.

Because these people have seen things that I think we really -- we really can't imagine. And we're just relieved that those people have managed to get out, but obviously, more needs to be done from our end, but also from everybody who can help.

MACFARLANE: And how much more do you think you can do? We've been talking today about the hope that more people will be able to be evacuated, but also that time is running out for them. Do you think -- how much time do you think you have left to reach those people, not just at the Azovstal plant, but also in Mariupol as well?

HANGER: At the Red Cross, at the International Committee of the Red Cross, we have to have hope, and we always have hope and we always will try. And every life is precious, so what were able to do today in this very complex operation is showing that the mechanism works. And we hope that in the future, we're going to get more people out wherever they may be, wherever they are trapped.

And this is something that we work on in our dialogue with the parties of the conflict. And that's complicated sometimes, but what it showed today is, it's a glimmer of hope for people.

MACFARLANE: What mechanism are you referring to, that you are using on the ground?

HANGER: So basically, it's our dialogue to the parties where we basically ask for concrete agreements that the parties agreed to, that trickle down, and that are concrete in terms of what are the roads that we're going to use? How many people can we evacuate? All these specific details need to be agreed upon beforehand by the parties, that will help us to help facilitate such a safe passage.

[14:25:00]

And those are very -- can be very complicated, at the same time, they're very concrete, they're very logistical. So, this is something where we can help reach an agreement, but it's ultimately up to the parties to agree on those. And this has been shown by this operation, which was very difficult, that it's possible and that's why we're hopeful to help more people in the future.

MACFARLANE: And how much cooperation are you getting from Russian troops on the ground? We are hearing that the attacks on the Azovstal plant for instance is still ongoing.

HANGER: So, I can't go into specifics on the operation or our dial up with the parties. What I can tell you is that again, what I said before is that we were able to facilitate the safe passage, and more needs to be done. We've been able to do this a couple weeks back in a safe passage operation where we evacuated people out of Sumy. We have managed to evacuate a 1,000 people from Berdyansk to Zaporizhzhia who were able to leave Mariupol on their own a couple of weeks back.

So, it is possible that means our dialogue with the parties of the conflict bears fruit to save civilians. And that's something that we're going to continue doing in the future to help more people.

MACFARLANE: Chris, it's incredibly important work that you and the Red Cross are doing. We wish you well and we hope you will come back and speak to us again, and in the meantime, the very best with this important work. Thank you.

HANGER: Thanks for having me.

MACFARLANE: OK, still to come tonight. Nordic countries are rethinking their defensive strategy in the face of Russia's invasion. I'm joined by Finland's Minister for European Affairs. And children caught in the crossfire, families mourn loved ones killed in Bucha. We'll hear from a grandmother consumed by grief, saying goodbye to her young granddaughter.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:30:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

MACFARLANE: Hello and welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM.

Russian president Vladimir Putin could formally declare war as soon as May 9th. This is according to the latest intelligence of U.S. and Western officials. It's a significant escalation that would allow Russia to fully mobilize its reserve forces.

Finland and Sweden have been watching Russia's moves closely. Neither are NATO members but that could soon change. Both are considering making applications to the alliance. The Finnish minister for European affairs joins me now from Helsinki.

Thank you for your time this evening. I've been saying we've been seeing reports that Finland is set to announce a decision to join NATO, I believe, on May 12th. Just as a starting point, is it your expectation that that will go

ahead?

TYTTI TUPPURAINEN, FINNISH MINISTER FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS: Well, it seems highly likely at the moment. We have been discussing the possible membership in NATO in our parliament now. The discussion is ongoing in all the relevant committees of the parliaments.

And we are approaching the pinnacle of the process. We are committed to a swift process and we will make decisions very soon. It's likely that the week is next week.

MACFARLANE: Finland has long assumed a policy of neutrality, military neutrality as well.

How much has the war in Ukraine shifted public opinion toward Russia and toward NATO?

TUPPURAINEN: Can I first clarify that we don't actually consider Finland to be neutral. We are firmly rooted in the Western sphere since we became a member of the European Union in 1995. So we are part of the West. We are not neutral.

But we have been military not aligned. That has served us best so far. But now, in the changing security environment, we have to assess the situation and make necessary decisions.

And you might say that a possible NATO membership is the sort of finalization of our Western integration, because NATO is not only a military alliance, it's not only a defense alliance but it's also a political alliance. So it's a very natural place for Finland to be.

MACFARLANE: We know though, that your move to join NATO will almost certainly be seen as provocation by Moscow. It could just be rhetoric. But you do share a 1,300 kilometer border with Russia.

How seriously are you taking threats from Russia?

TUPPURAINEN: Well, of course, we are monitoring the situation very carefully. Russia is not going to go away. It is there every day. We have 1,300 kilometers of border to Russia. But we cannot allow ourselves to limit our room of maneuver because of Russia's intentions and Russia's wishes.

We have been hearing repeatedly that Moscow will not been satisfied with Finland or Sweden joining NATO. But we cannot allow Russia to dictate our options and our room of maneuver (ph). We have to make our own security arrangements and we believe that we have the right to do so.

And NATO's open door policy is upmost important for Finland.

MACFARLANE: Have you seen any evidence or anything to be alarmed about, that Russia had been provocative in moving military equipment close to your border? TUPPURAINEN: Well, we've heard all kind of nasty messages from Moscow but, so far, there is no immediate threat against us. So we are not afraid of war in Finland at the moment. It's perfectly safe here in Helsinki and in the whole country.

But of course, when we apply for NATO membership, especially the interim period, before we become an actual member of NATO, and our part of the Article 5, security currently (ph), it can get really nasty.

At least, that what we hear from Moscow, so we will need solidarity from other countries. And the West needs to be united. We are promoting our freedom and the basic principle that every country has the right to make their own choices. It's not only about Finland and Sweden, it is also about the security order of Europe.

MACFARLANE: Yes, and you may possibly need security in the short term. We know that all 30 states have to accept you into NATO. We know that could take up to a period of a year.

Have NATO given you any assurances in terms of security during that transition period?

[14:35:00]

TUPPURAINEN: We have been repeatedly told that we are welcome to NATO. There will be solidarity toward us and we believe so and we are already member of the European Union, who also has as mutual assistance clause and its treaties, so E.U. member states are obliged to assist one another if a country is attacked.

So there's already security provider for Finland, that is the European Union. But of, course NATO is a very important actor in that field. So we will need solidarity from other countries.

We know what's kind of country Russia is. It is waging a ruthless and despicable war in Ukraine. There are no masks anymore. We know what Putin can do. He can violate innocent victims. There are obvious war crimes also in Ukraine, so we cannot deny actions. We have to act determinately. And the Western unity is crucial.

MACFARLANE: It is, indeed. We will, of course, be watching very closely on the 12th. Minister, thank you very much for your time.

TUPPURAINEN: Thank you.

MACFARLANE: World leaders out in force today, showing their support for Ukraine's war effort. The British prime minister became the first Western leader to address Ukraine's parliament since Russia's invasion began. Boris Johnson announced a new military aid package worth close to $400 million and praised Ukraine's fighting spirit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORIS JOHNSON, U.K. PRIME MINISTER: You've beaten them back from Kyiv, you have exploded the myth of Putin's invincibility. And you've written one of the most glorious chapters in military history and in the life of your country.

The so-called irresistible force of Putin's war machine has broken on the immovable object of Ukrainian patriotism and love of country. This is Ukraine's finest hour.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: French president Emmanuel Macron also spoke directly to his Russian counterpart. Mr. Macron warned Mr. Putin of the consequences of his actions in Ukraine, calling for an end to Russia's, quote, "devastating aggression." The pair spoke for two hours, according to French officials.

At least 31 children have been killed and 19 wounded in Ukraine's Bucha district. That's according to a local prosecutor in that region. As CNN's Sara Sidner reports, loved ones are struggling to properly mourn the war's youngest victims. I will warn you that what you're about to see is very disturbing. But the families want the world to see their faces.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA SIDNER, CNN SENIOR CORRESPNONDENT (voice-over): Sixty-eight- year-old Galina stands over her 7-year-old granddaughter's fresh grave. This is only the second time she's been able to visit the remains of her sweet, funny girl since the Russians rolled into town, snuffing out life as casually as putting out cigarettes.

These are the faces of the children of Russia's war on Ukraine, two sisters the family says were shot in a Russian attack in Bucha, 11- year-old Leta (ph) flinches in pain, hospitalized. Her 7-year-old sister, Anastasia (ph) lies motionless beside her. She never regains consciousness.

SIDNER: Tell me about your granddaughter.

GALINA, GRANDMOTHER OF BUCHA VICTIM (through translator): Nastia (ph), she says, calling her granddaughter by her nickname, she was so nice. Everyone loved her where we lived. She loved me and always asked me to sing a song for her.

SIDNER: Will you sing the song that your granddaughter loved for us?

GALNA (through translator): She refuses because the song that used to bring them both joy only brings her pain now.

SIDNER (voice-over): She was there to witness the murder of 7-year- old Anastasia (ph) and the wounding of a second grandchild who remains hospitalized. She says a Russian sniper shot through their vehicle from these woods, as the entire family, seven children and three adults, tried to escape the Russian siege of Bucha.

GALNA (through translator): These children were scared, they were all screaming, she says. And I asked the soldier to help us. I was begging them saying, don't you have kids of your own?

SIDNER (voice-over): Funeral director Anna Kalinichenko says theirs is a story that has played out again and again around here.

SIDNER: What are these families enduring?

ANNA KALINICHENKO, CEMETERY DIRECTOR (through translator): Russians would not let them bury loved ones at the cemetery. People had to bury them in their own backyards first then later at the cemetery.

SIDNER: The family, she says, have to endure two burials. They have to go through that pain twice.

[14:40:00]

SIDNER (voice-over): At the cemetery these days, Ukraine's old war heroes are being joined by young war victims. In Bucha alone, the local prosecutor says at least 31 children were killed by Russian forces, 19 injured.

SIDNER: Are these war crimes being committed?

KALINICHENKO (through translator): War crimes, yes. That will never be forgiven, neither in heaven nor on earth. They must burn in hell.

SIDNER (voice-over): Seething anger pours from her lips. She has seen too much death, too many fresh graves all at once, including the burial of 15-year-old Anya (ph) alongside her mother. Both shot and burned to death in their car after encountering Russian tanks as they tried to flee Bucha.

KALINICHENKO (through translator): It was a nice happy family. The mom gave all her love to her children.

SIDNER (voice-over): Anya's (ph) 14-year-old schoolmate says the Russians killed a girl with a warm smile and big talent. The art Anya (ph) made a reminder of the beauty she brought to the world at such a young age.

DASHA MARKINA, FRIEND OF SLAIN CLASSMATE (through translator): They just wanted to save themselves and they were shot, just because Russians wanted to do so. Those bastards don't know why they came here but they had fun doing it.

SIDNER (voice-over): In Anastasia's (ph) case, her grandmother says her son-in-law has already talked to authorities but for now, her once bright, lively granddaughter is alone, her final resting place awaits her remains.

Anastasia (ph) will finally be beside her own mother who died of cancer not long after Anastasia (ph) was born -- Sara Sidner, CNN, Warsaw.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: It's just horrific and heartbreaking.

All right, still to come, tonight Beijing announces new measures to curb rising COVID numbers, as tens of millions remain under lockdown across China.

Plus, a residual heat wave creates dangerous conditions in India and Pakistan. Why experts say conditions will eventually gets worse.

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MACFARLANE: Chinese authorities are intensifying efforts to curb the country's rising COVID numbers. Tuesday Beijing announced school closures and began another round of mass testing. It comes as tens of millions of people across China remain in some form of lockdown. Selina Wang has the latest from Kunming, China.

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SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Beijing is taking more extreme measures to contain the COVID outbreak. Parts of the city are locking down. Authorities are rushing to mass test more than 20 million residents three times in just three days.

Public venues, including public transportation, require residents to show proof of negative COVID tests in order to enter. Schools have suspended, entertainment venues like Universal Studios have shut down and in-restaurant dining is banned.

Officials in Beijing are cracking down early and aggressively to try to avoid the chaos of the citywide lockdown in Shanghai. Many of Shanghai's 25 million residents have been sealed inside their homes for more than a month.

That lockdown has sparked logistical chaos. Many residents are struggling to get food and medical care, triggering fresh horrors in Shanghai, as this video on Chinese social media showing workers taking a yellow body bag to a morgue.

The workers unzip the back and realize that the elderly man inside is still alive. But bystander filming this says, quote, "The nursing home is such a mess. They sent a living person on the hearse, said they were dead. It is irresponsible, really, irresponsible."

Residents saw this as more proof of dysfunction and failures of the Shanghai lockdown. In response to this backlash, authorities fired several officials in Shanghai. Just last week, the city said some neighborhoods could start to ease the lockdown restrictions if no COVID cases were reported for two weeks.

However, that freedom is tenuous. Most stores remain closed and the moment even one new COVID case is found, the clock resets for another 14 days in lockdown.

China is racing to contain COVID outbreaks across the country. At least 27 cities are under some form of lockdown restrictions, impacting up to 180 million people. Despite this growing frustration, though, the country's leaders are sticking to their zero COVID policy, claiming that it has allowed China to keep its death numbers low and saying that it is a more superior policy than other countries' COVID responses -- Selina Wang, CNN, Kunming, China.

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MACFARLANE: Record temperatures are gripping India and Pakistan, putting the lives of millions of people at risk. The heat wave has closed schools, damaged crops and squeezed energy supplies. And residents are struggling to stay cool.

Temperatures are expected to improve slightly this week but experts warn both countries will face longer, more frequent heat waves as global warming worsens.

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MACFARLANE: Still to come tonight, Hollywood's tumultuous trial moves to its next chapter. Johnny Depp's lawyers rest their case in the defamation suit against Amber Heard. We'll bring you the latest -- next.

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MACFARLANE: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM with me, Christina Macfarlane.

Now it's the Hollywood court case that has had us glued to our screens. After 13 days of testimony, Johnny Depp's attorneys have rested their case in the defamation trial against Amber Heard.

The actor says his ex-wife ruined his reputation with accusations of violence in their relationship. Jurors heard from more than 2 dozen witnesses detailing explosive fights between the former couple.

Heard's attorney filed a motion to strike the entire case, arguing Depp has not proven his argument. But the judge allowed the trial to move forward. We go to Chloe Melas.

And after 13 days of testimony, what comes next?

CHLOE MELAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, as of right now, just about an hour ago, a forensic psychologist was called from Heard's legal team to speak. This comes after a forensic psychologist last week said that Amber Heard, in her opinion, had borderline personality disorder.

We know there had been reports that Amber Heard switched PR teams because she's not happy with the way that the court of public approval has sort of swung in Johnny Depp's favor, with the headlines that have been sort of anti-Amber. Now we haven't heard from her yet. So we're expecting her to take the

stand as early as Wednesday. It will be interesting to see what she has to say, talking about this "Washington Post" op-ed piece she wrote a few years ago, which is why Johnny Depp is suing her.

He claims he hasn't been able to get any big movies or work since she published this op-ed about him. While she didn't name him, it's really hard -- it's a high bar to prove defamation. So it'll be interesting to see what Amber has to say.

She has sat stoically, quietly, very little emotional visibility on her face. We've seen really nothing from her, when you see those videos of her, sitting there while Johnny Depp took to testify four days.

So just a few more days left this week. It'll be interesting to see what she has to, say what she has up her sleeve and what her legal team is going to do.

[14:55:00]

MELAS: Especially in the midst of firing her public relations team and hiring a new firm to help her out when it comes to the court of public opinion.

MACFARLANE: Yes, that was a big move. It will be fascinating to see, as I say, we've been following this every step of the way. Chloe, thank you for the latest update.

Well, in the world of fashion, the first Monday of May, there's only one thing, the Met Gala. The world's best known stars flocked to New York for fashion's biggest fundraiser. The theme this year was gilded glamour. And in typical style, Kim Kardashian made headlines with this dress, last worn by Marilyn Monroe over 60 years ago.

The blond bombshell famously wore the gown to sing "Happy Birthday" to president John F. Kennedy. You see that on the right. Actress Blake Lively dazzled in a Versace gown, taking inspiration from an iconic New York landmarks from the Statue of Liberty to the blue seating of Grand Central Station.

While others used the night to make a political statement, Mayor Eric Adams wore a jacket bearing the words, "End gun violence" on the back.

Blake Lively quite possibly my favorite look of the evening.

And that will do it for us tonight. Thanks for watching, do stay with us. "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" is up next.